What Happens Around New Year After Christmas?

Christmas preparations in Dubai can make December 25 feel like one of the biggest celebrations of the year. Hotels put up elaborate Christmas trees, restaurants launch festive menus, malls host seasonal attractions and families book Christmas lunches weeks in advance. However, the celebrations can sometimes create confusion over one important question: is Christmas Day a public holiday in Dubai in 2026?

The answer is no. Christmas Day, which falls on Friday, December 25, 2026, is not an official UAE public holiday. The UAE Government’s official list of public holidays includes Gregorian New Year, Eid Al Fitr, Arafah Day, Eid Al Adha, the Hijri New Year, Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday and UAE National Day. Christmas Day is not included on that federal list.

That does not mean Dubai will feel like an ordinary December day. Christmas is widely celebrated across the city’s hospitality, retail and tourism industries, while many schoolchildren will already be enjoying their winter break. Some private employers may also offer employees additional leave, flexible working arrangements or the option to use annual leave around Christmas, but these arrangements are company policies rather than a UAE-wide statutory Christmas holiday.

For residents, visitors and anyone planning work, travel or family activities around December 25, here is a complete guide to how Christmas Day works in Dubai in 2026.

Christmas Day Public Holiday in Dubai: The Short Answer

Christmas Day is not listed as an official public holiday for either the UAE public sector or private sector.

The UAE’s public holiday framework is established through Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024. It sets out the holidays applicable across both sectors, including January 1 for Gregorian New Year, major Islamic occasions and December 2 and 3 for UAE National Day. December 25 does not appear on the list.

Therefore, employees should not automatically assume that Friday, December 25, 2026 will become an additional government-mandated paid holiday simply because it is Christmas Day.

The distinction between celebrating Christmas and Christmas being a public holiday is important.

Dubai has a large international population and a tourism industry that caters to visitors from many cultural backgrounds. Christmas decorations, events and festive dining can therefore be widespread even though December 25 is not included in the country’s official public-holiday calendar.

Why Christmas Day Is Not an Official UAE Public Holiday

The UAE has a defined national public-holiday calendar rather than automatically recognising every religious or cultural celebration observed by its diverse population.

Official public holidays include occasions connected with the UAE’s national calendar, the Islamic calendar and Gregorian New Year. The list applies to both the public and private sectors under the current federal holiday framework.

Christmas is widely recognised socially and commercially in Dubai, but it is not part of that statutory list.

Official UAE public holidays include:

• Gregorian New Year on January 1
• Eid Al Fitr
• Arafah Day
• Eid Al Adha
• Hijri New Year
• Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday
• UAE National Day on December 2 and 3

Islamic holiday dates are linked to the Hijri calendar and some dates are confirmed according to moon sighting. The UAE Government also notes that an additional day can apply to Eid Al Fitr if Ramadan completes 30 days.

Christmas Day does not appear anywhere in the official federal list.

This arrangement means Christmas is treated differently from January 1. New Year’s Day is explicitly included as a public holiday, while December 25 is not.

UAE Holiday Status at a Glance

The fact that Christmas is not a statutory holiday does not prevent companies, hotels, schools or families from celebrating it. It simply means the government does not require the date itself to be treated as a nationwide public holiday.

Will People Have to Work on Christmas Day in Dubai?

Whether you work on Christmas Day depends mainly on your employer, your normal weekly schedule and the type of organisation you work for.

Because December 25 is not an official public holiday, private-sector employees do not automatically receive an additional statutory day off specifically for Christmas. Companies remain free to create their own internal leave policies, however, and some international employers may choose to offer additional flexibility during the festive period.

There is another factor in 2026: Christmas Day falls on a Friday.

Working patterns vary significantly across Dubai. Some employees already have Friday as part of their weekly working schedule, while others may have reduced hours, flexible arrangements or a weekend structure that makes the date less significant from a work perspective.

Possible workplace arrangements could include:

• A normal working day
• Annual leave requested by the employee
• An employer-granted additional day off
• Work-from-home arrangements
• Reduced festive-period hours
• A company-wide shutdown covering Christmas and New Year
• Shift work for hospitality, retail, transport or healthcare employees

There is no universal rule requiring private companies to close for Christmas.

Employees who want December 25 off should therefore check their employment calendar or request annual leave rather than assuming the date will automatically become a holiday.

What Different Workers Might Experience

For Dubai’s hospitality and tourism industries, Christmas Day may actually mean more work rather than less.

Hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues and attractions frequently organise Christmas lunches, dinners and family experiences, requiring large numbers of employees to remain on duty.

Will Dubai Schools Be Closed on Christmas Day?

For many families, the situation is much simpler because Christmas falls during the UAE school winter break.

The UAE Ministry of Education’s published academic calendar for the 2026–27 academic year places the student winter break from December 14, 2026 into early January 2027. The Ministry’s detailed calendar identifies December 14, 2026 as the start of the student winter break, meaning December 25 falls comfortably inside the holiday period.

The calendar applies to UAE public schools and private schools following the Ministry of Education curriculum. Other private schools may operate under calendars approved by their relevant education authorities, so individual school dates can differ.

Christmas and the 2026–27 School Calendar

For families with children in international schools, Christmas holidays are therefore likely to feel like a genuine holiday even though December 25 itself is not a federal public holiday.

Parents should still check their own school calendar.

Dubai contains schools following British, American, Indian, IB and other international curricula. Their winter-break dates can vary within the framework allowed by local education regulators.

The key point is that Christmas Day falls during the wider winter holiday period for many students, which is why family activities and Christmas events can become especially busy.

What Will Be Open in Dubai on Christmas Day?

Visitors sometimes assume that Dubai might shut down on December 25 in the way parts of Europe, the UK or North America can become extremely quiet.

That is generally not how Christmas operates in Dubai.

Because December 25 is not an official public holiday, there is no nationwide requirement for shops, malls, attractions, restaurants or transport services to close specifically for Christmas.

In fact, Christmas falls during one of Dubai’s busiest tourism periods.

December typically brings cooler weather, winter tourism, festive hotel stays and increased demand for outdoor attractions. Many hospitality businesses therefore treat Christmas as an important commercial and entertainment date.

Visitors can generally expect activity across:

• Shopping malls
• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Beach clubs
• Theme parks
• Tourist attractions
• Supermarkets
• Cinemas
• Cafés
• Public transport
• Taxis
• Delivery services

Individual opening hours can always vary, especially for independent businesses.

Christmas Day Planning Guide

Anyone booking a Christmas lunch or major attraction should reserve early.

Christmas brunches and dinners can become particularly popular among residents who are not travelling abroad for the holidays.

What Is Christmas Actually Like in Dubai?

Christmas in Dubai is unusual because it combines traditional festive imagery with warm weather and the city’s own multicultural character.

Visitors can walk past enormous decorated trees inside luxury hotels, have Christmas lunch overlooking the Arabian Gulf and then spend the afternoon outdoors in comfortable winter temperatures.

The city’s hospitality industry embraces the festive season strongly.

Hotels commonly create Christmas menus and seasonal events, while malls may feature decorations, winter-themed attractions and family entertainment.

Typical Christmas experiences in Dubai can include:

• Christmas Day brunches
• Festive afternoon teas
• Hotel Christmas dinners
• Turkey takeaway packages
• Winter markets
• Christmas tree displays
• Santa appearances
• Children’s festive activities
• Gingerbread workshops
• Seasonal desserts
• Festive hotel stays
• Beachside Christmas lunches

This creates a very different Christmas atmosphere from cities where December 25 effectively brings daily life to a halt.

Dubai continues functioning, but festive experiences are layered on top of normal city life.

For visitors, that can make planning easier because restaurants, transport and attractions remain widely accessible.

Do Restaurants and Hotels Close on Christmas Day?

Quite the opposite in many cases.

Christmas Day is an important date for Dubai’s hotel and restaurant industry, particularly because so many expatriate residents and international visitors want somewhere to celebrate without cooking at home.

Hotels often release Christmas dining packages well in advance.

These can range from casual family brunches to elaborate multi-course dinners at luxury restaurants.

Popular festive dining formats often include:

• Christmas Day brunch
• Christmas Eve dinner
• Buffet lunch
• Roast turkey packages
• Family dining
• Outdoor terrace lunches
• Beachfront celebrations
• Premium tasting menus
• Children’s entertainment

Prices can vary significantly depending on the venue.

Luxury hotels can offer packages with live entertainment and premium beverage options, while neighbourhood restaurants may provide simpler set menus or festive specials.

Which Christmas Meal Might Suit You?

Booking early becomes especially important for larger groups.

Popular hotel restaurants can reach capacity well before Christmas Day, particularly when entertainment or family activities are included.

Will Dubai Malls and Attractions Be Busy on Christmas Day?

They certainly can be.

December is part of Dubai’s peak visitor season because temperatures are considerably more comfortable than during summer. Christmas also overlaps with school holidays and the wider year-end tourism period.

That combination can mean busy malls, restaurants, beaches and tourist attractions.

Families staying in Dubai often use Christmas Day as an opportunity to go out because children are already on school holidays.

International visitors may also be arriving specifically for a Christmas and New Year break.

Areas that could experience stronger visitor numbers include:

• Downtown Dubai
• Dubai Mall
• Dubai Marina
• JBR
• Palm Jumeirah
• Bluewaters
• Madinat Jumeirah
• Global Village
• Major theme parks
• Beachfront districts

The exact crowds will depend on events, weather and the venue.

If you plan to visit a major attraction on December 25, advance booking is usually sensible during the December tourism season.

How Is Christmas Different From New Year’s Day in Dubai?

This is one of the most important distinctions for employees and visitors.

Christmas Day is not a UAE public holiday, but January 1 is.

The UAE’s official public-holiday framework recognises Gregorian New Year on January 1 as a one-day public holiday for both the public and private sectors.

Christmas Versus New Year

This distinction is particularly important for employees planning annual leave.

Someone trying to create a longer year-end holiday may choose to use annual leave around Christmas and then combine it with the official January 1 holiday, depending on the employer’s working-week structure.

Dubai also becomes especially busy around New Year’s Eve because of fireworks, hotel events and major celebrations.

Anyone staying in the city from Christmas through New Year should therefore expect the second half of December to become progressively busier.

Should You Take Annual Leave for Christmas Day?

If having Christmas Day away from work matters to you, the safest approach is to request annual leave rather than assuming your workplace will close.

Companies can have very different approaches to December.

Some international employers offer reduced office staffing during Christmas week, while businesses working with overseas clients may slow down naturally because partners in Europe or North America are closed.

Other industries remain extremely active.

Hospitality, retail, logistics, aviation, healthcare, media and tourism can all operate normally or become busier.

Before making plans, check:

• Your company holiday calendar
• Your weekly work schedule
• Remaining annual-leave balance
• Internal Christmas policies
• Remote-working arrangements
• Whether December is a restricted leave period
• Shift schedules
• Office closure dates

Employees should also request leave early where possible.

If several colleagues want the same dates, employers may need to manage staffing levels rather than approving every request automatically.

Simple Christmas Leave Strategy

The exact best option depends entirely on your employer’s schedule.

Planning Christmas Day in Dubai: A Quick Checklist

Even without a public holiday, Christmas Day can still be one of the most enjoyable times of the year to be in Dubai.

Planning ahead is particularly useful because popular restaurants, hotels and festive events can become busy.

Before December 25, consider checking:

• Whether you are working
• Your children’s school holiday dates
• Restaurant reservations
• Hotel bookings
• Attraction tickets
• Christmas brunch availability
• Transport plans
• Parking options
• Weather forecast
• Travel plans for New Year

Families should also decide whether they want a traditional Christmas celebration or something more distinctly Dubai.

A traditional celebration might involve a turkey lunch and indoor festive decorations, while a Dubai-style Christmas could include breakfast outdoors, an afternoon at the beach and dinner overlooking the city skyline.

Quick Myths About Christmas Day in Dubai

Because Christmas is highly visible throughout Dubai, several misconceptions appear every year.

Myth: Christmas decorations mean December 25 is a UAE public holiday.

No. Businesses can celebrate Christmas extensively even though it is not part of the official public-holiday calendar.

Myth: Everything closes on Christmas Day.

There is no nationwide Christmas closure requirement. Dubai remains active and many tourism and hospitality businesses actively programme Christmas events.

Myth: Schools must remain open because Christmas is not a public holiday.

Not necessarily. In 2026, Christmas falls during the Ministry of Education winter-break period for relevant schools.

Myth: New Year’s Day has the same status as Christmas Day.

No. January 1 is explicitly included in the UAE’s official public-holiday list, while Christmas Day is not.

Myth: No employee can receive Christmas Day off.

Companies can offer additional leave or employees may use annual leave. The point is simply that December 25 is not a nationwide statutory public holiday.

Is Christmas Day a Public Holiday in Dubai in 2026?

The final answer is straightforward: Christmas Day is not an official public holiday in Dubai in 2026.

Friday, December 25 does not appear on the UAE Government’s list of public holidays applicable to the public and private sectors. The official calendar instead recognises New Year’s Day, Islamic religious holidays and UAE National Day.

However, the experience of Christmas in Dubai can feel very different from that legal status.

Many schoolchildren will already be on winter break, with the Ministry of Education calendar placing the student holiday across the Christmas period. Hotels, malls and restaurants are also likely to be highly active as Dubai welcomes residents and international visitors during one of its busiest tourism seasons.

For employees, the most important advice is to check your company calendar before making plans. Some organisations may offer flexibility, while others will treat December 25 as part of their normal operating schedule.

For visitors, Christmas Day can actually be one of the most enjoyable times to experience Dubai. The city remains active, festive dining is widespread and winter weather makes outdoor plans much easier than during the summer months.

So, while you should not count on an extra UAE public holiday on December 25, 2026, you can certainly count on Dubai giving you plenty of ways to celebrate Christmas.

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